What we want to happen in mental health

These asks are based on our research and on wider evidence.

PARITY for the treatment of mental health conditions and physical health problems

For adults and children with mental health conditions to be given maximum waiting times for treatment (including but not limited to psychological therapy), backed up by the NHS Constitution, as they are now for elective surgery.

For people with mental health problems to have safe and speedy access to good quality crisis care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, whatever the circumstances and regardless of whom they turn to first.

For mental health care to maintain or increase its current share of the NHS budget.

For the IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapy) programme to be completed to address the huge amount of unmet need among people of all ages with common mental health problems.

For action to achieve a measured reduction in premature mortality among children at risk of, and people with, severe mental illness through action to prevent childhood behavioural problems, to reduce tobacco dependence and weight gain, to improve physical health care and to prevent suicide.

EARLY INTERVENTION around pregnancy, with children and in families

For schools to be supported to promote good mental health and emotional literacy among children, backed up with better, faster and more attractive help for children with risk factors for poor mental health and those who become unwell.

For evidence-based parenting programmes to be provided to families who need them to prevent or manage behavioural problems in children up to the age of 11.

For good quality, outreaching and proactive mental health and social support to be available for vulnerable groups at risk of very poor outcomes. This includes children in care, those in the youth justice system, those in gangs, children of parents with poor mental health, substance misuse problems, gang affiliations and with histories of criminal activity and antisocial behaviour.

For Strength and Difficulties surveys to be carried out at key points in every child’s development (30 month checks, pre-school assessment, Year 6 and Year 8) with clear pathways to engaging, effective and appealing help when needs are identified.

RECOVERY in services and in the community

For DWP back-to-work services to be localised and link up with health services to provide all people with mental health problems tailored support to get work when they are unemployed.

For everyone who uses secondary mental health services to have access to an IPS service to help them to gain and sustain paid work.

For patient safety to be a priority on acute psychiatric wards, changing the culture of inpatient services to minimise the use of seclusion and restraint.

For the government to support the Time to Change campaign to sustain its work to reduce stigma and discrimination.

EQUALITY for everyone

For action to tackle inequalities within mental health, including for BME communities, people with personality disorders, LGBT groups and people with learning difficulties.

For parity of policy and commissioning attention to mental health difficulties in children. This should include tracking access to mental health services for children. And there should be at least parity of investment with adult mental health care.

For better continuity of care across key developmental transitions – particularly for young adults who need well-designed services commissioned to meet their developing needs and not shaped by funding and system needs.

Latest

Over 100 people lost their lives through suicide in prisons in England and Wales so far this year. Centre for Mental Health and Howard League for Penal Reform publish new research on how to make jails safer.

Six of England’s leading mental health organisations have joined forces to produce a plan for what the Government must do the first 100 days of the new Parliament to improve the lives of people with mental health problems.

Risk, Safety and Recovery argues that risk and safety are rightly major concerns in mental health care but that traditional clinical management methods of assessing risk have stood in the way of helping people to recover their lives.